OPPO X 2021 Preview – Tweakers

The left part contains the cameras, but the set-up of this prototype is not very interesting: a 48-megapixel main camera with a double cool camera for 3d applications. At the bottom of this section is also the green-framed USB-C port. Not present is the special wireless charging technology that OPPO recently demonstrated at MWC Shanghai with another prototype of the OPPO X 2021. With Wireless Air Charging, that model could be charged with 7.5W without lying exactly on the charger.

Complicated mechanics

A complicated mechanism is hidden under the screen of the OPPO X 2021. That already starts with the two motors, or actually linear actuators. One of them is above, the other below, and together they ensure that the panel can roll out automatically. You still had to open earlier foldables yourself. It remains to be seen whether motors will really be necessary for these types of foldables. In any case, the motorized system ensures that the screen is always on and remains flat against the housing. Folding and unfolding takes about a second and is therefore less fast than manual unfolding. The linear actuators are strong enough to prevent you from accidentally sliding it back together or pulling it apart by hand. In the hand, it takes some getting used to that parts of the device shift along your skin.

In contrast to smartphones with a motorized slide-out camera, the test model does not yet have a facility to retract the screen at lightning speed if the device detects a fall. In normal use, the system must be able to roll in or out a hundred thousand times, comparable to the first camera smartphones with a retractable front camera. That should be enough for a number of years of use. We also wonder what this system means for the battery life of the device. During the preview session we had about an hour and a half of hands-on time, during which we often rolled the smartphone in and out. We do not know whether it is the motors, but the initially half-full battery was almost completely empty at the end of the session.

The two motors in image 1 let the screen roll out and in. The comb-shaped images in the second image slide apart to support the screen. This is further reinforced with the Warp Track Laminate, which can be seen in the third image.

Many folding smartphones have a visible and tactile crease where the screen bends, because there is nothing directly underneath to support the screen. Thanks to the rollable and motorized construction, the OPPO X 2021’s screen should be virtually fold-free, and you won’t feel any imperfections when swiping at points where the panel is less well supported. The manufacturer has devised a system of comb-shaped ‘support plates’ for this purpose. They interlock when they slide shut, so that support is available in every position. The screen rolls out over those combs on what OPPO calls the Warp Track Laminate. This is a kind of track-like construction of super-thin steel plates directly under the screen, which should further strengthen the panel.

In practice, the OPPO X 2021’s panel is not completely fold-free, although in our opinion the device comes closer to it than previous foldables. The part of the screen that does not fold appears to be completely stuck in the housing. The rolled-up part, the start of which can be recognized in the unrolled state because a fine line of dust collects there, feels more flexible. When pressing on that point, we notice a little bit of play between screen and housing. Wavy reflections also reveal that the screen is not quite tight at that point.

As with previous folding devices, the OPPO X 2021’s screen is also made of plastic. That feels different from the smooth, hardened glass of other smartphones. It is also less resistant to scratches. With a device like the Galaxy Z Fold2, the screen is protected by the housing when closing it, but with the OPPO X 2021 this only applies to about half of the panel. That is a disadvantage of this form factor.

Not entirely smoothly

There is only one button on the side of the OPPO X 2021. This Magic Side Button serves as a power button and has a built-in fingerprint scanner with gesture recognition, so you can use it to roll the screen in or out. With a swipe up on the button, the panel unfolds; a swipe down or pressing the button twice in a row will roll up the screen again. With our test model, this did not run smoothly yet. In our experience, you have to swipe at exactly the right speed (read: quite slow), otherwise nothing will happen. OPPO wants to prevent the thing from accidentally unrolling in your bag or pocket. Yet it happened to us during the hands-on that the device suddenly started to slide in or out when accidentally touching the button.

As far as the software is concerned, the OPPO X 2021 is not yet completely finished, although the manufacturer has already added a few nice adjustments in its ColorOS skin that are aimed at this type of device. For example, the way in which icons on the home screen smoothly spread out over the screen when the panel rolls out is great. Apps generally also adapt nicely to the larger screen, for example the camera app or video app.

OPPO previously showed that the screen could also adopt sizes between the two extremes. This would allow it, for example, to automatically adapt to the aspect ratio of a video file, so that you can display it without black bars. However, this was not yet the case with the model we were working on. Only complete rolling in or out was possible.

Here and there in the interface are some strange visuals glitches to see. For example, apps sometimes fill up the space on the screen with a strange delay, especially when using the split-screen mode, in which you can put two apps next to each other. That mode is not yet as user-friendly or extensive as that of Samsung, in which you can open more windows more easily and adjust the layout of the screen to your liking. Ultimately, the added value of the larger screen with this device will also depend on whether developers of Android apps will take these types of concepts into account. Videos and games are quite easy to scale up, but in apps that are focused on productivity, you prefer to see more information and extra menu bars appear on the screen with the screen folded out.

Conclusion

With the Find X 2021, OPPO is taking a first step towards the new smartphone product category with screens that do not fold, but roll. Although it looks quite complete at first glance, this early model still has plenty of flaws, which do not address some of the fundamental drawbacks of all of today’s foldables, including the fragile display and limited software support. Nor would we look forward to the best hardware or a price breakthrough in this very expensive category should it come to an actual release.

As far as we are concerned, the interesting thing about the new form factor is that the device looks more like and feels more like a ‘normal’ smartphone or tablet in both modes. Where with an earlier foldable, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, you cannot believe that you have bought a regular smartphone, the Find X 2021 can continue for that with a little good will. Maybe that’s exactly what this product category needs.

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